by political editor Paul Francis

Free transport for hundreds of children attending Kent’s grammar and church schools is to be scrapped completely as part of a cost-cutting move.

Despite overwhelming opposition, county education chiefs are set to end discretionary subsidies for those who opt for either a selective or denominational school above other schools nearer to where they live.

The proposal, which will come into effect in September 2012, is likely to dismay many parents who choose church schools as well as the county’s grammars. Its impact will be felt mainly among middle income families.

The county council has decided against retaining some level of subsidy and asking for a contribution from parents, as it initially suggested.

The current subsidy is worth an average of about £400 a year but varies depending on where children live and the school they attend.

It is available where the school is more than three miles from their home.

Church schools believe that ending free transport will limit parental choice.

However, KCC says the public spending squeeze means it has to curb its school transport costs. It spends about £14m a year transporting children to and from mainstream schools.

Cllr Sarah Hohler, KCC cabinet member for education, defended the plan. "This year has seen considerable pressure on public services and like every other council in the country we have had to look at how we can do things differently.

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"Kent County Council has produced a budget to deliver £160million of savings over the next two years. Part of this will include a reduction in the school transport budget."

"We have provided transport for selective and grammar school for many years even though it was not a statutory requirement. Since this time there have been many changes.

"The most important of which is the introduction of the Kent Freedom Pass, which offers excellent value for money. We expect most families will choose to use this pass."

She added the council would consider help for those on low incomes and looked after children who wished to attend a grammar school.

"this year has seen considerable pressure on public services and like every other council in the country we have had to look at how we can do things differently…” – cllr hohler

Free transport will be available to those who get a place at a grammar school if it is within two and 15 miles of their home.

That help with costs is already available to those attending church schools.

The proposal follows a public consultation that drew 1,200 responses.

Of those, nearly 90 per cent opposed the move, with a third saying it would cause financial hardship and a quarter saying it was unfair to grammar schools.

Pupils who are already receiving help with transport costs at both church and selective schools will continue to do so.

The impact will be felt mainly among middle and higher income families.

Currently, close to 7,000 grammar school students receive help under the scheme but KCC estimates 4,200 would lose out under its new arrangements because their income means they would not qualify for support.

Of the 1,800 children who attend mainly Catholic secondary church schools, just over a third would continue to qualify.

The proposal to end free transport is expected to be agreed by KCC’s Conservative cabinet next Monday.